Jackie Ransom, Luster, and Beta Evers Bring Delicious Gloom on Split Wax

Aside from being one of the sweetest people around, Jackie Ransom is one local we can be proud of. This seven-inch split with Luster and Beta Evers is proof-positive of vinyl's superiority as "the" music format more people should be into. Before we go into the specifics of this little record, I would like to point out the nice packaging; thick vinyl and sturdy insert that as a record geek I can fully appreciate. You should too; it's a well-known fact that you can't cuddle with an MP3.

Moving right along, Ransom's side, "The Killer Inside," is a murderous fantasy delivered over a haunting and simple synth melody with some decidedly cheeky and retro Casio drumbeats that evoke, at least for me, when MIDI got a resurgence earlier this century for homebody musicians and locally to the great work put forth by Jeremy Kolosine and Futurisk. There also is a great nod to American pulp fiction (Jim Thompson anyone?) that can't be denied. In any case, this is solid minimal wave with an almost gothic undertone.

I can picture it as a slow dancer, later in the evening in a dark-lit club, partner half-embraced, casually spilling scotch on the dance floor.

No stranger to Germany's always burgeoning electronic music scene, Beta Evers teams up with Luster to produce an equally haunting but perhaps cheerier take on undying love for their half of the wax. Although her side is certainly more up the alley of darkwave and/or post-new wave, it's still, like the counterpart, a song that sticks with you. Although most split seven-inchers are made to "save" money on behalf of the bands and labels involved, it is nice to see one where the music showcased is of a complementary nature.

Overall, this is a well-executed project and an excellent introduction to both of these artists and to the vinyl-challenged. Aside from being available at your local record store (Sweat or Radio-Active Records), you can purchase a physical copy here, and if you really enjoy the vast cold of digital files, you can download it here.

Did I mention that this is a fully international production? Cut at Abbey Road in London, pressed in the USA, and peddled by Australia's Zero Hour/Doom & Glamour, it goes to show what a little collaboration can do!

Jackie Ransom - "The Killer Inside"